As much as I pretended to hate it, being at home grounded me in a way that was sorely needed. For a few hours, I was given no room to dwell or question anything about anything as my five younger siblings vied for my attention and Momma snuck questions in between them.
With Momma and Daddy having big families, and then my stepdad and Daddy’s first and second wives also having big families, all of us were used to carrying on multiple conversations at once and cutting in when we could. With May on one knee, I dug into Momma’s huge spread. Fried chicken, fried okra, black-eyed peas, and a plate of corn on the cob stacked so high, I had to glance around it to see across the table. Not really, but I made my brothers laugh when I did it.
I got caught up on their schoolwork and new best friends. Momma was a full-time stay-at-home-overseer of the Brandt household, so she filled me in on her craft projects, trouble the kids got into, and my stepdad’s work. He wasn’t with us thisevening because his dad was in the hospital, and he visited whenever he could.
“How’s he doin’?” I asked when it was just Momma and me washing dishes and putting the kitchen back to normal.
“It’s not lookin’ great,” Momma said with a sigh. “Ben’s workin’ with his dad when he’s awake and capable to get his affairs in order.”
“Oh, dang. It’s that bad, huh?”
Momma nodded. “We’re hoping he makes it to the Christmas holidays, but I’m not so sure.”
“How’s Ben with all of it?” Unlike my brother, Nathan, my only full blood sibling, I didn’t call our stepdad Daddy. I didn’t talk to our daddy all that much anymore, but I couldn’t call another man by that word. It had never fit, and Ben didn’t mind.
“He’s better. I think he’s come to terms with it. I’m glad they’ve had this time to say all that needs sayin’. Ben’ll be the pillar his family’ll need when the time comes.”
“And we’ll be his pillar,” I said.
Momma glanced at me, then nodded with a sad smile. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”
I bumped her hip with mine since both our hands were busy. “Got it from you.”
Her smile wasn’t quite so melancholy this time. Then she glanced over her shoulder, probably to make sure we were alone, and asked, “So any handsome young men you wanna tell me about?”
“Momma.” I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, sweetie, you’re right. You’re right. I’m rushing things, but by Christmas, I expect some news. I need grandbabies.”
“Don’t you have enough kids? Why are you so keen on me addin’ to them?”
Momma sat her wet dish down but didn’t dry her hands before grabbing me and smacking kisses all over me again. “I’ve just got so much love to give.”
I laughed and halfheartedly fought her. “Stop. Get off me.”
“Nooo, it’s bubbled over. I can’t stop it.”
Her shout caused others to come running. I wouldn’t call it a tradition or anything—okay, maybe it was—but we had this thing about piling on the kisses if we saw them happening. We didn’t need to know why they were needed; we just joined in. Soon, I had all but Nathan hanging off me and smothering me with hugs and kisses as I tried to remain on my feet. Nathan, too big for this now, stood in the doorway and laughed.
“You could help me, traitor,” I accused.
“All you, bro,” he said.
My family was ridiculous, but I loved them.
Saturday morning, I had Ben’s tux ready to go and said goodbyes with promises to be back soon. Three hours wasn’t that far, but, well, okay, no excuse. It wasn’t far. Momma texted Savannah to take pictures of me in Ben’s formalwear, and my nowex-favorite cousin said she would.
I went straight to Savannah’s instead of the dorms first. She had to be at the venue early to do her thing, so we got ourselves ready at Aunt Penny’s before we left together.
The venue was similar to the hotel where the charity event was held two weeks ago. A different hotel, but they looked the same to me. Pretentious and stuffy.
Savannah was in her groove, jumping from station to station, fixing hair and painting faces, readying a dozen models to assist with showing off the items on the menu for this auction. I almost asked her to work her magic on me, and I’d find a dress, because the women were doted on way more than the few men, but she already had her hands full. Instead, I lounged in the stagingarea, chatted with the male models, who were very nice, and waited for the thing to start.
Nerves were high as most of these models were new to the business and working their way up at events like this. Their sponsor mistook me for one of their ranks, which boosted the ole ego, but I was glad I didn’t have to beonthis time.
The ballroom was full of people by the time I came out of the prep room.
Tables and more tables were set with food shaped as all sorts of things, like animals and flowers. Champagne flowed. The bar was slammed. I was tempted to see if I could get an adult drink, but I was already event crashing and didn’t want to draw any attention. I grabbed a sparkling water and people-watched from various positions in the room.
